AIR TRANSPORT

CHAPTER 3
Air Waybills & Accompanying Documents
Learning Objective :
 The student should have knowledge of the functions, outline &
application of the air waybill as well as the accompanying
documents in air transport.

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3.1 The Air Waybill(AWB)
Objectives :
 The student will be able to understand the main functions of an air
waybill and the distribution of the air waybill originals and copies.

The student should be able to read the air waybill number.

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AWB….cont’d
• Airway bill (AWB) means a document
entitled (Air waybill/Air Consignment
Note) made out by or on behalf of the
shipper, which evidences the contract
between the shipper and the carrier (s)
for the Carriage of cargo over the routes
of the carrier (s).

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AWB….cont’d
Passengers travelling by air are issued with tickets as
proof of the contract of carriage. In air cargo transport,
this similar document is called an air waybill, abbreviated
AWB.
In business, around 90% of all the air waybills are
prepared by air cargo agents on behalf of the shipper and
the carrier.

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AWB….cont’d
• The air waybill is also always completed on the basis of
a Letter of Instruction, which the sender must complete.
Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)-
 the document containing instructions by shipper/ its
agent for preparing documents and forwarding
consignments.
It is completed in full and signed by the shipper & the
shipper remains accountable for all information, especially of
the goods type.
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The AWB has several purposes such as:
Documentary evidence of the conclusion of the contract of carriage
Proof of receipt of the goods for shipment
Freight bill
Certificate of insurance (if carrier’s insurance is requested by
shipper & if it is applicable)
Guide to carriers’ staff in handling, dispatching and delivering the
consignment.
It is used to transport an individual shipments or consolidated
shipments.

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Originals and Copies of air waybill
As prescribed by IATA, the air waybill consists of 3 original copies,
with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 11 additional copies.
 Each copy assumes a distinctive function.
 Air waybill originals
Original No. 1 - green :this is intended for the administration of the
carrier (transporter).
The airway bill serves as the accounting document for the issuing
carrier & a documentary evidence of carrier’s & shipper’s signature
to the contract of carriage.

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AWB…….cont’d
Original No. 2 – pink
This accompanies the shipment and is intended for the consignee.

Original No. 3 – blue

 This is intended for the shipper (sender).
 It serves as proof of receipt of the goods for shipment and documentary
evidence of the contract of carriage between the carrier and the shipper.

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AWB……cont’d
The additional copies of air waybill, with a minimum of 6 and a
maximum of 11, are distributed (used) as follows:
Copy No. 4 - yellow
This copy, marked "delivery receipt", accompanies the shipment to its
final destination, to be signed by the consignee upon delivery,
a. proof of delivery of the shipment in good order and
condition to consignee;
b. evidence of completion of the contract of carriage.
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AWB……..cont’d
Copy No. 5 – White
Accompanies the shipment to its final destination, for use in effecting
clearance of the shipment through customs.
Copy No. 6 - White
• This copy, marked "for third carrier” ,is to be retained by the third
carrier, if any, to serve as their traffic document.
Copy No. 7 - White
• This copy, marked "for second carrier", is retained by the second
carrier, if any, to serve as their traffic document.

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AWB.......Cont’d
Copy No. 8 - White
• This copy, marked "for first carrier", is retained by the first carrier to serve as
their traffic document
Copy No. 9 - White
• This copy, marked "for agent", is retained by the issuing IATA cargo agent who
issues the air waybill on the airline's behalf.
Copies No. 10 – and more (up to no.14)
• These are extra copies for use by any of the carriers, if needed.

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Validity & duration of contract of carriage

• The validity of the contract of carriage starts when the AWB

is executed & signed by the shipper or his agent and the
issuing carrier’s agent.
• The validity expires when the consignment is delivered to
the consignee as stated on the AWB.

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AWB NUMBER

• The AWB number is an integral part of the AWB and consists of 11

digits.
• The Number is of two parts ,of which the first part (the 1st 3 digits)
identifies the airline and the second part (the remaining 8 digits)
,being a sequential serial number, identifies the individual
consignment.
• EXAMPLE: - 071-15619623 Where;
• 071 is the prefix (IATA’S airline prefix ) for Ethiopian Air Lines
• 15619623 is the sequential number assigned to a specific shipment.

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 Any
questions?
?
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3.2 Types of Air Waybills

Objective :
• The student should know the differences among the three types of
air waybills: neutral air waybill, master air waybill and the house air
waybill, and understand in what circumstances each of such
documents is used.

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3.2 Types of Air Waybills

The Neutral Air Waybill (NAWB)

• Neutral Air Waybills (NAWB) are exclusively printed and obtained
through IATA verification and clearance.
• Once the cargo agent or shipper obtains the assigned air waybill
number provided by the airline or the IATA air cargo agent that is
entitled to issue House Air Waybill, the NAWB’s are approved for
computer printers and have the same validity as a Master Air
Waybill or House Air Waybill.

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3.2 Types of Air Waybills...cont’d
• House Air Waybill (HAWB):- the document which covers each
individual shipment of a consolidation.
• Master Air Waybill: - is the regular airline bill of lading issued by the
originating airline.
• As for the airlines, there is no difference in MAWB whether the
consignment is a single shipment directly from the shipper or
forwarder, or a consolidated shipment from consolidators.

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Check :
I. What are the purpose of AWB??
II. What is the difference between house & master AWB?
III. When AWB is issued -how money copy & original and their
use ?

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3.3 Accompanying Documents

Objective :
The student should be aware of the other main documents that are
involved in air transport, and be able to explain why and when such
documents are used in practice

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Accompanying Documents
• The most important document governing the relationship between the
parties in air cargo transport is the Air Waybill.
• Other documents such as the Shipper’s Letter of Instructions also play an
important role.
• On top of these, there are documents which may be required by various
authorities, such as :
Cargo manifest,
 Consular invoices,
Customs declarations,
 Certificate of origin etc.

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THE AIR CARGO MANIFEST
• One of the standard documents adopted by ICAO for the clearance of
aircraft and cargo is the air cargo manifest.
• A cargo manifest (automated or manual) is a document which contains list
of cargo and mails prepared for a flight.
It contains information such as :
AWB number,
Mail reference or dispatch number (DN),
Total number of pieces,
 Commodity description,
Weight of cargo,
Origin and destination points ,etc.

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THE AIR CARGO Manifest…Cont’d
The format of the Cargo Manifest complies with the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements as laid down in the
ICAO ANNEX 9 Appendix 3.

Even if there is no cargo uplift from a station, the manifest should

be prepared with a remark cargo & mail “NIL” and same should be
sent to all concerned stations and departments.
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THE AIR CARGO Manifest…Cont’d
The sequential entry on the cargo manifest should be in the following
order:
1st. AIR MAIL
2nd. AIR FREIGHT
3rd. COMAT
If no load is uplifted in any one category of the above a “NIL” entry
must be made.

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Consular invoices
• A consular invoice is a document with a detailed statement of
goods, certified by a consular official of the importing country,
• and used by the customs officials to verify the value, quantity and
nature of the shipment shipped.
• The consular invoice describes the goods shipped, showing
information such as the consignor, consignee and value of the
shipment
• Often it is in the language of the importing country.

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Customs invoices
• A customs invoice is a document required by customs in an importing
country in which the seller states:
-the price (e.g. selling price, price of identical goods),
and specifies costs for freight, insurance and packing
etc.
• This is for the purpose of determining the customs value in the
importing country of goods consigned to that country.

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Certificate of Origin
• A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a document certifying the country in
which the goods are manufactured, i.e. the origin of the shipment.
• It is used by customs offices to determine the appropriate duties to
be assessed on the goods imported
• and, at times, to determine whether the shipment may be legally
imported at all.
• The CO may be required because of established treaty arrangements
between the countries, varying duty rates, and preferential duty
treatment dependent on the shipment’s origin.

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Any
questions?
?

June, 2019
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Check :
What are other accompanying documents and
what are their purpose ?

June, 2019